Five Aside: Brazil earn dubious distinction

Brazil's nightmare week concluded with a 3-0 loss to the Netherlands in the third place match, marking the first time Brazil has lost consecutive home games of any kind since 1940. The Dutch finished third at a World Cup for the first time, marking the ninth straight tournament with a European team in third place.

Saturday's match-up at the Estadio Nacional wasn't the most thrilling precursor to the tournament finale at the Maracana, but it did set the stage for a little added history in Sunday's match. The first goal scored in the final will tie 1998 for the most goals in a single tournament in World Cup history. It also capped an impressive offensive tournament by the Netherlands -- and a disaster for the hosts.

Here are five notes from Saturday's third-place match:

- Brazil had one 3-goal loss in 102 World Cup games entering Tuesday's semifinal against Germany, but has now lost back-to-back such matches by a combined score of 10-1. The 10 goals Brazil conceded in the last two matches equal the number conceded in its previous 17 at a World Cup.

- Brazil's 14 goals allowed and -3 goal differential are the worst by a Seleção in World Cup history. Brazil's 14 goals conceded are the most by any World Cup team since Belgium (15) in 1986. Brazil joins a dubious list of countries to allow at least 12 goals in a tournament under the current format: 2002 Saudi Arabia and 2010 North Korea are the only other countries since 1998 to allow at least 12 goals in a tournament.

- Robin van Persie converted a penalty kick in the third minute of the match to put the Dutch ahead for good, becoming the sixth Dutch player (and third on the active roster, with Wesley Sneijder and Arjen Robben) to score at least six career World Cup goals. Georginio Wijnaldum scored in the first minute of stoppage time to cap the Netherlands' excellent offensive showing, especially in the second half of games. The Dutch finished with 11 goals a +9 goal differential after halftime, both the best in the tournament.

Daley Blind's 17th minute strike was the second of three Dutch goals on the day against Brazil.

- After van Persie started the scoring with the second fastest goal ever allowed by Brazil, Daley Blind scored his first career international goal in the 17th minute. Blind's goal ensured that Brazil had allowed multiple goals in back-to-back matches, something it hadn't done at a World Cup since 1970.

- Brazil's struggles without Neymar continued. With Neymar on the field Brazil averaged 1.4 goals, 11 chances created and 119 touches in the attacking third per 90 minutes. Without Neymar, Brazil averaged 0.4 goals, three chances created and 69 touches in the attacking third per 90 minutes. Brazil especially struggled to generate offense from the wings, creating 15 chances via crosses with Neymar and only one without him.